Animal Stories: Realistic

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Realistic animal stories are usually more about the humans involved than about the animals. This isn't always true (London's Call of the Wild is a notable exception), but anyone who's read The Yearling, James Herriot's 5-volume memoir, or most of Marguerite Henry's books knows that the main characters are people, and the animals are the primary concern of those characters.

That's not to suggest that the animals are incidental, just that what readers are supposed to take away aren't simply facts about horses or dogs, but what all good literature offers, insight and commentary on the human condition. The reason we like stories involving animals so much is that humans and their furry companions are able to forge unique bonds predicated on innocence and loyalty that rarely exist in strictly human relationships.

What sets realistic animal stories apart from fantasy animal stories is that the animals in them are real animals, not talking, clothes-wearing, pipe-smoking people in animal costumes. Dogs bark, horses gallop, cows give birth to calves (it happens a lot in Yorkshire, apparently), and the world is very much as we experience and know it to be.

Children are particularly drawn to these stories, not because they like animals more than adults do, but because their imaginations still recognize everything as fair game. Animal tales show the world from an often unfamiliar perspective, and the appeal is especially great for those whose own perspective is still largely unformed.

A lot of these make great read-alouds for really young kids, or good books for budding readers to practiceon their own. Just because they're in the kids' fiction section doesn't mean they're only intended for children, either, and plenty of adults are still as much into animal novels as they were thirty years ago. Our selection is intentionally broad, and steadily growing—we may or may not be included in that last group.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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	Bambi A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten from Aladdin Paperbacks Animal Stories: Fantasy for 4th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99
	Big Red by Jim Kjelgaard from Holiday House Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Black Beauty Puffin Classics by Anna Sewell from Puffin Books Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $8.99
	Black Stallion Black Stallion #1 by Walter Farley from Yearling Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Black Stallion and Flame Black Stallion #15 by Walter Farley from Random House Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.50
	Black Stallion and Satan Black Stallion #5 by Walter Farley from Yearling Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.99
	Black Stallion and the Girl Black Stallion #19 by Walter Farley from Yearling Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.99
	Black Stallion Challenged Black Stallion #17 by Walter Farley from Random House Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.99
	Black Stallion Legend Black Stallion #20 by Walter Farley from Random House Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Black Stallion Mystery Black Stallion #13 by Walter Farley from Yearling Realistic Animal Stories for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.99
	Black Stallion Returns Black Stallion #2 by Walter Farley from Yearling Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Black Stallion Revolts Black Stallion #9 by Walter Farley from Yearling Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Black Stallion Revolts Black Stallion #9 by Walter Farley from Scholastic Press Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Black Stallion's Blood Bay Colt Black Stallion #6 by Walter Farley from Yearling Realistic Animal Fiction for 5ht-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Black Stallion's Courage Black Stallion #12 by Walter Farley from Yearling Realistic Animal Stories for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.50
	Black Stallion's Filly Black Stallion #8 by Walter Farley from Random House Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Black Stallion's Ghost Black Stallion #18 by Walter Farley from Random House Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Black Stallion's Sulky Colt Black Stallion #10 by Walter Farley from Yearling Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.99
	Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.39
	Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck from Random House Realistic Stories for 6th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck 1994 Printing from Random House Realistic Stories for 6th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Dog Who Wouldn't Be by Farley Mowat from Bantam Books for 3rd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Five True Dog Stories Five dogs you'll never forget by Margaret Davidson from Scholastic Inc. in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $4.99
	Five True Horse Stories Five horses you'll never forget by Margaret Davidson from Scholastic Inc. in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Follow My Leader by James B. Garfield from Puffin Books Animal Stories: Realistic for 3rd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99 $4.00 (3 in stock)
	Follow My Leader by James B. Garfield from Scholastic Inc. Animal Stories: Realistic for 3rd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Frightful's Mountain by Jean Craighead George from Puffin Books Adventure for 4th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Gentle Ben by Walt Morey from Puffin Books Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Hurry Home, Candy by Meindert DeJong & Maurice Sendak from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Fiction for 4th-8th grade 1954 Newbery Honor Book in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford from Bantam Books Animal Stories for 4th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Irish Red by Jim Kjelgaard from Yearling Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Island Stallion Black Stallion #4 by Walter Farley from Random House Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Island Stallion Races Black Stallion #11 by Walter Farley from Random House Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Island Stallion's Fury Black Stallion #7 by Walter Farley from Random House Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Julie "Julie" Trilogy Book 2 by Jean Craighead George from HarperCollins Adventure for 4th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
	Julie "Julie" Trilogy Book 2 by Jean Craighead George from HarperCollins Adventure for 4th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.99
	Julie of the Wolves "Julie" Trilogy Book 1 by Jean Craighead George from Scholastic Inc. Adventure for 4th-8th grade 1973 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $1.50 (1 in stock)
	Julie's Wolf Pack "Julie" Trilogy Book 3 by Jean Craighead George from HarperCollins Adventure for 4th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Jungle Book Puffin Classics by Rudyard Kipling from Puffin Books Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.99
	Jungle Books Signet Classics by Rudyard Kipling from Signet Classics Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.95
	Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Wesley Dennis from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade 1946 Newbery Honor Book in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.39
	Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo from Scholastic Inc. for 4th-7th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $5.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
	King of the Wind The Story of the Godolphin Arabian by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Wesley Dennis from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-7th grade 1949 Newbery Medal winner in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.39
	Lad: A Dog by Albert Terhune from Puffin Books Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99
	Man O' War Black Stallion #16 by Walter Farley from Yearling for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99
	Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Wesley Dennis from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade 1948 Newbery Honor Book in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.39
	Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Wesley Dennis from Scholastic Inc. for 3rd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $1.60 (12 in stock)
	Mustang, Wild Spirit of the West by Marguerite Henry Reprint from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.39
	National Velvet by Enid Bagnold from Avon Books Realistic Fiction for 4th-7th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Old Yeller by Fred Gipson from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade 1957 Newbery Honor Book in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $9.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Old Yeller by Fred Gipson from Scholastic Inc. Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade 1957 Newbery Honor Book in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	On the Far Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George from Puffin Books Adventure for 4th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $8.99
	Outlaw Red by Jim Kjelgaard from Yearling Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat from Yearling Realistic Animal Stories for 2nd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $5.99
	Rascal Memoir of a Better Era by Sterling North from Puffin Books Biography for 4th-8th grade 1964 Newbery Honor Book in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99 $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Rascal Memoir of a Better Era by Sterling North from Puffin Books Biography for 4th-8th grade 1964 Newbery Honor Book in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Savage Sam by Fred Gipson from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Saving Shiloh Shiloh #3 by Phyllis R. Naylor from Aladdin Paperbacks for 4th-7th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Shiloh Shiloh #1 by Phyllis R. Naylor from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 5th-8th grade 1992 Newbery Medal winner in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99 $3.00 (2 in stock)
	Shiloh Christmas Shiloh #4 by Phyllis R. Naylor from Scholastic Inc. Realistic Animal Stories for 5th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Shiloh Season Shiloh #2 by Phyllis Naylor from Aladdin Paperbacks for 4th-7th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Snow Dog by Jim Kjelgaard from Yearling Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Son of the Black Stallion Black Stallion #3 by Walter Farley from Random House Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for 2nd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99
	Stormy by Jim Kjelgaard from Yearling Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.99
	Stormy, Misty's Foal by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Wesley Dennis from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.39
	Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls from Bantam Books Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $8.99
	Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls from Bantam Books Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings from Simon Pulse Realistic Animal Stories for 6th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $9.99
	Young Black Stallion Black Stallion #21 by Walter Farley from Random House Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $5.99

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